Italy Greenlights Historic $15.5 Billion Messina Strait Bridge Project
Italy Greenlights Historic $15.5 Billion Messina Strait Bridge Project
Italy has officially approved the construction of the ambitious Strait of Messina Bridge, a colossal 13.5 billion euro ($15.5 billion) infrastructure project set to connect the Italian mainland with Sicily. The decision, confirmed by an interministerial committee on August 6, 2025, paves the way for what Transport Minister Matteo Salvini hailed as “the biggest infrastructure project in the West.”
Premier Giorgia Meloni described the bridge as an “engineering symbol of global significance.” The project, which has faced decades of delays and debates concerning its scale, seismic risks, environmental impact, and potential for mafia interference, is now moving forward with preliminary work expected to commence between late September and early October, pending final court approval. Construction is slated to begin next year, with an anticipated completion between 2032 and 2033.
The bridge, designed to be the world’s longest suspension bridge with a suspended span of over 3.3 kilometers (2 miles), aims to significantly boost the economically lagging southern Italy by creating an estimated 120,000 jobs annually. It will feature three car lanes in each direction and a double-track railway, drastically cutting travel time across the strait from up to 100 minutes by ferry to just 10 minutes by car.
Despite its transformative potential, the project continues to navigate concerns from environmental groups, opposition to its proposed classification as a dual-use military asset for NATO, and ongoing vigilance against organized crime, which authorities have pledged to keep out of the supply chain. The consortium led by Italian infrastructure group Webuild, which previously won the bid in 2006, is tasked with bringing this long-envisioned project to fruition.
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